Health Watch: Go the extra mile

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By More Content Now

Kiowa County Signal - Kiowa County, KS

By More Content Now

Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 1:01 AM

By More Content Now
Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 1:01 AM

Tip of the Week

If you take the bus to work, there’s a simple way to sneak in a little extra exercise: Instead of jumping on at your usual stop, walk a mile to the next one down the line. You’ll be surprised by how little time it takes, and there are some big benefits that come with walking.

Beat the chair - The average American sits 13 hours a day according to a new survey. Even if you work out for an hour a day, sitting for that long still isn’t healthy. According to The Mayo Clinic, long periods of sitting can lead to a number of health concerns, including obesity and abnormal cholesterol levels, and also increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Burn calories - Your mile walk is not just to take in the scenery; you are burning calories with every step. A 156-pound person burns approximately 90 calories walking a mile at a moderate pace, according to a California State University study.

— Life Fitness

Number to Know

10,000: The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. (A mile is equal to about 2,000 average steps.)

— Life Fitness

Children’s Health

A new online study, conducted by Wakefield Research among 400 U.S. teenagers ages 13 to 17, found that 76 percent of teens believe that with the legalization of marijuana, teenagers may be more likely to experiment with the drug. The study also found that 73 percent of teenagers believe having easier access to marijuana may accelerate teens in trying other drugs, and 61 percent says that teenagers who use marijuana are more likely to try heroin, a potentially fatal drug.

— Brandpoint

Senior Health

A new Gallup poll found that Americans aged 65 older had the highest satisfaction with how they look of any age group, with 66 percent saying they “agreed” or “strongly agreed” they always feel good about their physical appearance.

Middle-aged Americans (those aged 35-64) had the lowest rating, with only 54 percent reporting feeling good about their appearance. Of those aged 18-34, 61 percent reported a positive response.

New Research

A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that taking high doses of niacin may not reduce the risk of heart problems. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, has long been thought to aid in lowering LDL, the “bad cholesterol,” while raising the healthful HDL cholesterol.

The study, which combined the results of two separate studies into the use of niacin, found no reduction of heart attacks and stroke rates as compared to a placebo.